House at 57 Woburn Street
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 at 57 Woburn Street in Reading, this Queen Anne house was commissioned by Dr. Alfred W. Danforth, who bought the lot next to his home at number 55. Local architect Horace G. Wadlin designed it, and Captain A.J. Bancroft built it. Its cruciform plan matches that of its neighbor, but varied shapes and rich surface detail set it apart: patterned shingles, a recessed stucco sunburst, an elaborate porch railing, paneled spandrels, unusual brackets and rounded gable-window jambs. Clapboards and shingles cover the exterior, and a large elm shades the front facade. Danforth ran a drugstore at Main and Pleasant Streets for many years, and his son Percy continued the business until 1956. The house was recognized for its part in the area's late 19th-century residential growth, its link to Danforth, and its well-preserved, architect-designed Queen Anne character.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house's role in the late 19th-century residential development of Woburn Street and its connection with longtime Reading druggist Alfred Danforth. It is also valued as an intact, architect-designed Queen Anne residence, one of Reading's more elaborate examples. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84002657, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 57 Woburn St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002657 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Horace G. Wadlin; built by Captain A.J. Bancroft |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.52641, -71.10041 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84002657.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715590
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.